FORGE Grant

FORGE Grant

The FORGE Grant (Fund for Racial and Gender Equity) provides eight grants of $65,000 in unrestricted funding to organizations committed to advancing racial, gender, and economic equity across Arizona. As WFSA unlocks additional years of funding, we intend to prioritize renewing these grants prior to bringing in additional grantee partners.

The grants are designed to support an organization’s existing ways of working, not intended to encourage unwanted or unsustainable change in either operations or programming.

Why FORGE?

FORGE breaks barriers in philanthropy by prioritizing community leadership, unrestricted funding, and equity-driven solutions. Designed by WFSA grantee partners, this grant shifts power to those driving systemic change.

This FORGE grant is designed to accomplish 3 outcomes:

• Access and Outreach:
  • Grants are accessible and reach orgs outside of the mainstream nonprofit sector (e.g. leaders who experience barriers to accessing institutional funding, organizations that are led by and serve BIWOC communities, organizations with smaller budgets, organizations that are more newly established).
• Sector Shifting:
  • WFSA’s grant process creates a shift in power where the community makes the decisions about how and where resources move and grantmakers facilitate movement of those resources.
  • Grantees/applicants and grantmakers are partners in creating impact and collectively challenge the charity orientation by building, testing, and publicizing a Trust-Based Philanthropy model for Arizona grantmakers to build on.
• Trust and Value:
  • Applicants and grantees feel trusted, supported, and genuinely seen throughout the grantmaking process.
  • WFSA staff and board are proud and supportive of the committee’s decisions and process.

Funding

• 8 grants of $65,000.00, one year, unrestricted
• Up to 8 grants of $1000 to interview finalists

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Grantee Requirements
  • Organization holds a 501(c)3 status designated by the US Internal Revenue Service or are fiscally sponsored by an entity who holds this status
  • If not a 501(c)3, you must be fiscally sponsored before finishing the application
  • Organization’s work is based in Arizona
  • Organization’s local annual budget is under $1,000,000 (excluding fiscal sponsor agents)
  • 50% or more of the organization's leadership (Directors, Executives, and Board) are BIWOC (Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color)
  • 50% or more of the organization’s population served is BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
• Issue-based organizing and advocacy can be supported through this fund.

Ineligibility

• Grants cannot be used to support candidate-specific electoral work.